With this being my 42nd year of NFL Fandom, I've grown to expect some very uneven performances in the early preseason, for myriad reasons.  Coaches do not game plan for preseason, and they don't want to tip their regular season hands.  The early preseason games are played mostly by bottom of the roster guys who likely will not  be on an NFL roster by the time the regular season roles around.  These bottom of the roster guys are still, in some cases, still struggling to grasp the playbook, to say nothing of the nuances of the pro game. Compounding this is the growing trend of not even bothering to play the starters much at all.  Before, starters would usually get at least a series or two before making way to the reserves, but teams are going increasingly risk averse in the attempt to minimizing injuries. Furthermore, the officials tend to throw a ton more flags to emphasize rules tweaks designed to mitigate certain behaviors and techniques.  That said, tonight's game can best be described as comprehensive offensive putrefaction.  Back circa 2000, we beat the Browns v.2.0 by the score of 48-0.  The game sticks out to me because the Browns, QBed by a guy named Spurgeon Wynn, never crossed midfield for the entire game!  I had never seen that before, and I never expected to see that again, yet with 2:00 left in the game, the team has not crossed midfield.  I'm thrilled the new season is upon us, but such a spectacular display of offensive ineptitude was painful to watch and is enough to dampen the enthusiasm to start the season.    In fact, I am left to wonder what I did or did not do, either in this life or the one before, to warrant being subjected to such offensive incompetence.

Here are some other observations and thoughts.

1.  Considering so many players were kept out of the game, the vets that played obviously have something to prove or improve upon.  One such player was Taven Bryan, whose play has disappointed many Jaguars' faithful.  While he had no big plays, he had his moments where he got push rushing the passer.

2.  Another such player is Keelan Cole.  While he has one more year of experience than Bryan and has more of a play-making resume than Bryan, he was nevertheless disappointing last year, and accordingly found himself in the game.  WRs in his position typically have to show some potential to contribute on Special teams to enhance his chances to remain on the roster.  He did exactly that with his 100+ yard kickoff return for a TD.  While it was called back, his return will stick in the minds of the coaches for a while.

3.  Still another vet that needed to show something was OL Will Richardson.  He was a complete nonfactor last year, spending all last season on IR without showing much in training camp.  In my second training camp report this year, I wrote that in my first extensive viewing of him, he looked pretty good.  Tonight was a different perspective.  He worked exclusively at RT, where in that second practice I attended, he switched between RT and RG.  While Richardson looked good early, there were subsequent possessions where he was pushed into the QBs face.  While seeing him is better than not seeing him, some of the enthusiasm I had for him has waned a little.

4.  I saw some people complaining abut Chark.  I had no problem with his performance.  Yes he had a drop and went for minimal gain on another play, he got behind the Ravens secondary deep, only to have a pass overthrown.


5.  While I will elaborate on the rookie QBs later, I will say it's most peculiar that a team with Super Bowl aspirations like the Jaguars would have such a woeful depth chart behind Foles.  Between the other three QBs on the roster behind Foled, there is  exactly one season of NFL experience.  I have to think that once the final cuts are made, the Jaguars will add a more experienced signal caller.

6.  I did not get as good a look on Datone Jones as I had hoped.  I will have to get back with you guys on that-maybe late Saturday or sometimes Sunday.

7.  Rookie Watch:

• Josh Allen-It was odd that Allen got playing time considering how many starters they kept out of the game.  I was holding my breath throughout the game, hoping Allen would not suffer an injury.  That aside, while Allen is best known for being a pass rusher, his hirst play had him making a splash against the run, tackling the ball carrier for a 2 yard loss.  There were a couple of other run plays where he seemed to decently hold the point of attack.  When it came to rushing the passer, he did not register a sack, and I did not see him get any pressures.  There was a play where Jackson rolled far to the right and Allen was free, yet he did not pursue very hard, perhaps because of Jackson's exceptional mobility necessitating him staying hime and keeping contain.
  
• Jawaan Taylor-Did not play
  
• Josh Oliver-Did Not Play-Hamstring injury
  
• Quincy Williams-Did not play-Meniscus surgery
  
• Ryquell Armstead-like he has in camp, Armstead had some nice runs, running with attitude and authority.  I did not notice him in the passing game.  Left the game with a concussion.
  
• Gardner Minshew-the popular rookie backuo had a rough first preseason game.  he suffered two hits that knocked his helmet off, including a hit right in front of the goal line where he looked like he fumbled.  There were at least a couple of throws where there were open receivers outside the numbers that he underthrew
  
• Dontavious Russell, didn't focus much on him.  I will have to come back to him later.
  
• Mike Walker-had a decent return but nothing special
  
• Tyre Brady-I only saw one pass thrown to him, which he dropped.
  
• Charles Jones-he dropped a pass over the middle.
  
• Bunchy Stallings-got a lot of snaps in at C in the second half of the game.  He showed decent mobility, but did not seem to get much movement in the running game.
  
• Andrew Wingard-had a couple of nice run support fits, but has a bad holding penalty that negated Cole's kickoff return for a TD.
  

8.  The two Tres-Tre McBride and Tre Herndon had some good showings.  McBride was the most effective WR on the field tonight, making a couple of decent catches.  he seemed to play with more energy than the others.  I don't know if he'll make the team, even if he replicates his performance, but he made a favorable impression tonight.  Herndon had some nice pass breakups.  I feel comfortable with him as the 4th or 5th CB.

9.  Bottom line:  as bad a performance as it was, I'm sure glad it's just preseason.

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